1 Kings 3:26-27
26 But the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply stirred over her son, and she said, “Pardon me, my lord! Give her the living child, and by no means kill him!” But the other woman was saying, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; cut him!” 27 Then the king replied, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.”
Many people who read this passage focus on the great wisdom of Solomon, and for good reason. He truly was both wise and great. Yet today I want to turn our focus to another area. I want to look at the courage, love, and honor displayed by the true mother of the child.
Today, were this story to unfold, we would likely have both women fly into a fit of hysteria and likely break down emotionally in front of everyone. It is likely, had this happened, that neither mother would have left with the child as the king could just have easily have kept the child for his court.
Yet knowing this, and knowing that the child's life was in danger, the mother of this child laid aside her selfishness and pride, and was willing to allow the child to be raised by someone else rather than to let that child die. His life was that important to her.
This draws many parallels to today's world and society, particularly in America, but we are not going to delve into the political side of it here. Rather, I want to key on the heart of the mother, who loved her child more than herself, to the point where she would publicly debase herself, and allow it to be said publicly that he was not her son rather than see him lose his life.
How many people in our selfish and self-gratifying world today would be willing to do the same thing?
This is a foreshadowing of Christ's love for us. He, the Devine Creator God of the Universe, was willing to lay aside His due glory and be debased in human form in order that we might find life in Him. What an amazing thought, and want an amazing call to emulate.
Our focus should not be on ourselves, or our wants/wishes/desires, but rather on seeking out what Christ has for us and whom He has for us to love/help/evangelize.
When we, like that mother, love others more than ourselves, Christ's mission for us becomes an easy burden to bear.
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